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At a Glance: Name: Bartholomew – Meaning: son of Talmai (Talmai being a personal name, possibly the biblical king of Geshur or a rendering of 'Ptolemy') – Origin: Aramaic (via Greek Bartholomaios, Latin Bartholomaeus) – Gender: primarily used for boys – Pronunciation: bar-THOL-uh-myoo
Bartholomew is a name that means 'son of Talmai,' with Talmai being a personal name, possibly the biblical king of Geshur or a rendering of 'Ptolemy.' It comes from Aramaic by way of the Greek Bartholomaios and the Latin Bartholomaeus. You may see it translated as 'son of the furrows' on some baby-name sites, but that reading over-interprets Talmai as the Hebrew word for 'furrow,' and 'son of Talmai' is the better-supported meaning.
Meaning & Origin of Bartholomew
Meaning: Son of Talmai (Talmai being a personal name, possibly the biblical king of Geshur or a rendering of 'Ptolemy').
Origin: Aramaic (via Greek Bartholomaios, Latin Bartholomaeus).
A common claim: Popularly translated as 'son of the furrows' on many baby-name and religious-name sites. Actually: This over-interprets the name element Talmai as related to the Hebrew word for 'furrow' — the better-supported reading is 'son of Talmai,' Talmai being a personal name, not a common noun.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Bartholomew
Phonetic: bar-THOL-uh-myoo IPA: /bɑːrˈθɑːləmjuː/
Popularity of Bartholomew
Bartholomew peaked at #481 in 1885, with 15 babies given the name, and it has slipped since then. In 2024 it ranked #3323, with 35 babies, so it's a rare choice today.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
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Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Bartholomew mean?
Son of Talmai (Talmai being a personal name, possibly the biblical king of Geshur or a rendering of ‘Ptolemy’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Bartholomew)
How do you pronounce Bartholomew?
Bartholomew is pronounced bar-THOL-uh-myoo (IPA: /bɑːrˈθɑːləmjuː/).
Is Bartholomew a popular name right now?
Bartholomew peaked at #481 in 1885 and is ranked #3323 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
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